Feb11

Why you should come to the March and bring others: Violence against women is an ever-present symptom of a sick society. It continues to affect communities all over Québec, Canada and the rest of the world. Since roughly 1980, Between 583 and 3000 Indigenous women have gone misisng or been murdered in “Canada.” Come out and show support for the survival of the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s (NWAC) and their unprecedented Sisters in Spirit campaign (SIS), which, since it’s inception in 2004, has worked to raise awareness on and compile data about violence against Native women and girls in Canada. In that time they have forged strong relationships with women and their families and communities. The last annual Sisters in Spirit March and Vigil was organized by over 86 communities across Canada, with one in Nicaragua. In spite of this progress, the government held SIS in funding limbo for 8 months, ever since the release of Canada’s 2010 budget back in March, when $10 million was promised to “address the issue of missing and murdered Native women.” It wasn’t until November 2010 that the government finally made the announcement that confirmed the worst fears of many activists, organizers, and even opposition MPs: the money would not go to fund SIS research, but would instead fulfill the government’s new idea of safety for women, and include requirements for enhanced police power: amendments to the Criminal Code to allow police to wiretap without warrants in emergencies and obtain multiple warrants on a single application. This will not only increase the likelihood of criminalization of women and Native communities, but will be expected to operate without the backbone of research and data collection. Add to this the historical and ongoing relationship of distrust between many Native communities and police, who are themselves implicated in a number of documented violent altercations with Native women. Gladys Tolley, for instance, was killed by the Surete du Quebec in 2001 and no one was ever brought to justice. Her daughter Bridget Tolley has pushed for an independent investigation for years and was recently refused. ENOUGH is ENOUGH!! We will not stand for the continued stripping down of First Nations programs essential to the physical safety and mental and emotional health of Native women and Native communities, as we have seen earlier this same year with the Aboriginal Healing Foundation and First Nations University. RALLY FOR JUSTICE on February 14th. SHOW YOUR LOVE. Invited guests include: Nakuset (Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal) France Robertson (Quebec Native Women) Karine Gentelet, Amnistie Internationale Host Drum: Tiohtiake Singers More info: justiceformissing@gmail.com,...